Legacy essays earn students scholarship funds

Ruth CampbellStaff WriterMidland Reporter-Telegram

Published 7:00 pm, Monday, April 24, 2006

Instead of stuffing envelopes or filing, Jason Huerta wanted his community service to be hands-on to earn a Legacy Scholarship, co-sponsored by the Abell-Hanger Foundation and Helen Greathouse Charitable Trust.

Huerta was one of five students honored Tuesday during a luncheon in the Roadrunner Room of the Scharbauer Student Center at Midland College. In return for the scholarship, which covers tuition and fees, students are required to perform 40 hours of community service. Those who wrote essays about that service receive an additional $500.

About 60 people attended the luncheon. Abell-Hanger Executive Director David Smith said community service students provide is good for their growth and development.

"Young people have very receptive hearts to the needs of others," Smith said, adding that many are not aware of those needs.

Along with Huerta, Meghan Wilson, Will McAdoo, Chelsea Welch and Linda Chen received the funds. Nineteen-year-old Huerta volunteered for Helping Hands and Baking Bread Soup Kitchen.

"I just really did enjoy working with those organizations because they do positive things," he said. "7 I'm really thankful."

This is the first time McAdoo, 20, has earned the scholarship. He gave time to the Alzheimer's Association, City of Midland (COM) Aquatics and coached youth soccer. "I'm really honored to have this opportunity share my experiences and get a scholarship for it," he said.

Welch, 18, worked for Meals On Wheels, Habitat for Humanity and helped with a kindergarten class. In her essay, she said her first experience with community service totally changed her. "I felt so good afterwards 7 I just could not get enough of it," she wrote.

Chen, 18, worked for Casa de Amigos. "It's an honor. It's something that doesn't happen to a lot of people, so when it does, it's shocking. It's exciting. It's a great feeling. 7 I couldn't ask for more," she said.